Robert f



' (No Model.)

' R. F. WALKER.

GA TRIRGR CARRIER.

' No. 568,220. P t'e ted Sept. 22,1896.

w TNESSES; I IRMA/Z;

' Arm/mans,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT F. \VALKER, OF LIMERICK, IRELAND.

CARTRIDGE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,220, dated September 22, 1896.

Application filed January 3, 1896. Serial No. 574,275. (No model.) Patented in England June 18, 1895, No. 11,880.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. IVALKER, of Limerick, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridge- Carriers, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in England, No. 11,880, dated June 18, 1895,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates particularly to devices for carrying cartridges for sportsmens firearms, and the object is to provide aholder in which a number of cartridges may be carried with the least possible fatigue to the sportsman, from which one or two cartridges may be easily extracted and in the proper position to be inserted in the breech of a gun, and in which the cartridges will be kept dry, thus preventing their swelling, whether the carrier be worn under or over the coat.

I will describe a cartridge-carrier embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a cartridge-carrier embodying myinvention; and Fig. 2 is a partial elevation and partial section thereof.

The cartridge-carrier comprises two bags A A, joined together and closed at the upper end, as indicated at a. The bags may be of any desired size, and in practice I find that in the two bags or slings forty-eight cartridges may be carried with comparatively little fatigue, as the weight is evenly distributed and supported from the shoulder of the sportsman. The bags or slings are of suitable fiexible material, preferably waterproof or treated with a waterproofing to protect the cartridge-shells from dampness and consequent swelling. To the lower or mouth end of each bag or sling is attached an outlet-tube A A of a length substantially that of a cartridge-shell and having an inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of a shell breech-flange. The two outlet-tubes are so secured together as to converge toward their lower ends and are adapted to swing outward or away from each other in order to release the cartridges. From the tube A intermediate of its ends, lugs a extend inward and from the tube A lugs a extend inward and overlap the outer sides of the lugs a. A pivot-pin a extends through registering perforations in the lugs a a and thus a swinging connection is provided between the two tubes.

B is a releasing push-bar arranged vertically between the two tubes A A and extended between the lugs a o The bar is provided with a longitudinal slot 1), through which the pivot a passes, and at its upper end it is provided with a thumb-piece b. At its upper end, beneath the thumb-piece b, the bar has laterally-extended arms 6 to which one end of links 6 are pivoted, the outer ends of said links being pivoted to the upper portions of the tubes A A as plainly shown in the drawings.

To the pivot a a rod 5 is rigidly affixed, and this rod extends downward and loosely through a longitudinal perforation in the push-bar B, and to the end of the rod a stophead B is affixed. When the lower ends of the tubes A A are in their innermost position, the stop-head extends slightly into the tubes and forms stops against which the breech-flanges of the cartridge-shells engage. I have here shown the ends of the tubes as provided with notches 5 through which the edges of the stop-head may project, so as to support the ends of 'the cartridges slightly above the ends of the tubes, and thus the end of the cartridge is protected from rain. This construction, however, is not absolutely necessary, as a practical result would be obtained by so constructing the parts that the stop would project across the end of the tubes.

Between the push-bar B and the stop-head B is a coiled spring B The upper portion of the spring is shown as engaging around a reduced portion of the push-bar and the lower end of the spring is seated in a recess formed in the stop-head. This spring serves to automatically return the tubes to their normal position after the removal of a shell or of two shells. V

In use the carrier is slung over the shoulder so that the tubes will be at one side of the wearer. The cartridges are put into the carrier with the breech end downward, and when it is desired to take out two cartridges the thumb of one hand is placed on the thumbpiece of the push-bar and the fingers are held underneath the ends of the tubes. Then by pushing downward on the p ush-bar the ends of the tubes are swung outward away from the stop-head and two cartridges will fall into the hand in the proper position to be placed in the gun. As the cartridges are drawn out the push-bar must be released, so that the spring will return the parts to their normal position. If only one cartridge is desired, it is obvious that the wearer of the device may by using one of his fingers easily prevent the other cartridge from falling beneath the stophead.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A cartridge-carrier, comprising a receptacle for cartridges having an outlet-tube at its end, a stop-head normally projecting into the tube, a push-bar, and a connection between the push-bar and tube to cause a swingin g apart of the head and tube when the bar is operated, substantially as described.

2. A cartridge-carrier, comprising slingbags or receptacles having at their ends outlet-tubes pivotally connected together, stops between the tubes and normally projecting into the same, a push-bar, and a connection between the push-bar and tubes for swinging the tubes apart when the push-bar is operated, substantially as described.

A cartridge-carrier, comprising slingbags, tubes connected to the lowerends thereof and converging toward their lower ends, a pivotal connection between the tubes, a stophead supported by the pivot, a push-bar having link connections with the upper portions of the tubes, whereby on a downward movement of the push-bar the tubes will be swung apart, and a spring for returning the parts to a normal position, substantially as specified.

4. In a cartridge-carrier, the combination with sling-bags or receptacles provided at their ends with tubes pivotally connected together, of a stop-head for retaining the cartridges in the tubes, and a sliding and spring pressed push-bar pivotally connected with the said tubes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a cartridge-carrier, the combination with sling-bags or receptacles provided at their ends with tubes pivotally connected together, of a spring-pressed push-bar pivotall y connected with the said tubes and serving to swing the lower ends of the tubes apart, and a stop-head connected with the said push-bar, substantially as described.

6. In a cartridge-carrie1g the combination with sling-bags or receptacles provided at their ends with tubes pivotally connected together, of a spring-pressed push-bar, links pivotally connecting the upper end of the push-bar with the tubes, and a stop-head connected with the push-bar, substantially as described.

7. In a cartridge-carrier, the combination with sling-bags or receptacles, of tubes secured to the ends of the bags or receptacles and provided with overlapping lugs pivoted together, a push-bar having a longitudinal bore and slotted to receive the pivot'pin of the said lugs, links pivoted to the upper end of the push-bar and to the tubes, arod in the bore of the push-bar and having one end secured to the said pivot and projecting below the push-bar, a stop-head on the lower end of the said rod, and a spring between the pushbar and stop-head, substantially as described.

ROBERT F; IVALKER.

IVitnesses:

XV. DowMAN, F. J. GILL. 

